Page 76 of Half Baked

He turned to me, his eyes shining brightly. “In case you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m Type A, and I hate when things aren’t perfect. I don’t want to fuck this up, Maddie. It’s part of the reason I’ve been staying away. I wanted to make sure I was doing things the right way, but all I’ve done is screwed them up more.”

I frowned. “What did your therapist say about your dad’s diagnosis?”

“I haven’t told my therapist.”

“Noah.”

He pulled up to the curb in front of an older-looking ranch house with bare landscaping. “I will. I promise. First, we’ll find your mother’s murderer, then we’ll have our happily ever after.”

His words took me by surprise. “You see us having a happily ever after?”

“I hope so.” He gave me a hopeful look. “If I don’t keep screwing things up.”

“Just be honest and stop keeping secrets, then we’ll work everything else out as it comes. You don’t have to be perfect, Noah, no one is.”

“I hope it’s that easy.”

I lifted a brow. “Why don’t you try it, and we’ll find out if it is?”

He laughed. “Touché.” He turned serious. “You ready for this?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“I want you to take the lead on the questions, just like with Mrs. Lebowski.”

Nodding, I held his gaze. “Okay. Thanks for doing this with me. I can’t tell you how much it means to me.”

“I wouldn’t let you do it alone.” He took my hand and squeezed it. “Now let’s see what we can find out.”

We got out and walked up to the house. A rusted minivan with a faded red paint job was parked in the driveway. It had to be a decade old. The house had a worn look too, but it didn’t seem ominous. It looked lived in and loved.

I knocked on the front door, my stomach performing cartwheels while we waited.

About ten seconds later, a dark-haired woman opened the front door a few inches and peered out. “Whatever you two are sellin’, I don’t want it.”

She started to close the door, but I called, “Annemarie? I’m not selling anything. It’s Maddie. Maddie Baker.”

The door stopped, and after a second, she pushed it open. “Maddie Baker?” she asked incredulously.

I nodded. “I wasn’t sure you’d remember me.” I released a tight laugh, my emotions getting the better of me. “I don’t look like I did when you knew me.”

She laughed too, tears filling her eyes. “You’re all grown up.”

“You look like I remember,” I said truthfully. “Just a bit older.” And more than a few pounds heavier.

“Over twenty years older. The last time I saw you, you were six years old.” She shook her head. “What are you doin’ here? How’d you find me?”

“You know small towns. Everyone knows everyone else’s business,” I fudged. “And I decided it was time to find out more about my mom as a person, you know? I only knew her as my mom, but it hit me recently that she was only six years older than me when she died. I want to know more about her, and I remembered you were best friends when I was little.” I cringed. “I know I should have called first, but it’s my first day off in ages, and my boyfriend Noah”—I gestured toward him—“and I were in Galena anyway, so we decided to take a chance and see if you were home.”

“Oh my goodness! I can’t believe you’re here,” she exclaimed. “Come in! Come in! Little Maddie Baker, all grown up.”

I walked into the house with Noah following behind. The living room was filled with older furniture, but it was neat, clean, and homey. A fire blazed in the fireplace, and a soft throw was draped on the sofa along with an open book, the pages flat on a sofa cushion.

“Can I get either of you anything to drink?” she asked, staring at me like she was seeing a ghost.

“No, we’re good,” I assured her. “I hope we’re not disturbing you.”

“I was just reading.” She gestured to a love seat opposite the sofa as she picked up her book, placed a bookmark inside before she closed it, then set it on the table next to her. “Sorry if I’m staring,” she said as she took a seat on the sofa and Noah and I sat next to each other on the love seat. “It’s just that you look almost exactly like your mother.”

---